Universal ring setting for receiving different size crowns for holding different size gemstones

ABSTRACT

A universal ring setting for receiving different size gemstone crown heads for mounting different size diamonds or gemstones. The universal ring setting includes a gemstone crown head for supporting a gemstone. The crown head includes a housing having a plurality of holding prongs, and an interior cavity for receiving and mounting the gemstone therein, and having a bottom circular edge with a notch formed therein. The universal ring setting includes a ring shank for encircling a finger of a user, the ring shank has an upper shank section with an integrally attached crossbar member formed thereon. The crossbar member is used for detachably receiving the notch of the crown head thereon for cooperatively mounting of the crown head to the upper shank section of the ring shank.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gemstone crown head with a notch inthe bottom wall that attaches flush to an integral crossbar in a ringsetting without the use of a lock or latch to hold the gemstone crownhead in place. More particularly, this allows different sized gemstonecrowns to be received by the same ring setting for mounting of differentsized diamonds or gemstones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Finger rings with interchangeable settings are well-known in the priorart. Such interchangeable settings include key and screw attachmentassemblies, interchangeable ring shank and ring ornament assemblieshaving male and female mechanisms, an interchangeable setting with aslip and catch engagement means, a post and groove interchangeablesetting, an interchangeable multiple mount head system, and the like.The problem with the above aforementioned assemblies and systemsrequires the jeweler to manipulate small parts in its assembly and thefrustration of losing these small parts in the rings assembly. Otherproblems include having an interchangeable mechanism that is not easy touse, as well as being secure when the gemstone and crown head aremounted together. These custom assemblies many times lack mechanicalintegrity.

There remains a need for a universal ring setting for receivingdifferent size gemstone crown heads for holding different size diamondsor gemstones. Further, the gemstone crown head has a notched groove inthe bottom wall which attaches in a flush manner to an integral crossbarmember in a ring setting without the use of a lock or latch in order tohold the gemstone crown head in place. Additionally, the gemstone crownhead and the universal ring setting has an interchangeable mechanismthat is easy to use, secure when attached with each other and does notrequire the jeweler to manipulate any small parts when assembling thering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Key and screw attachments for a crown and shank, interchangeable crownheads, interchangeable ring ornament assemblies, multiple mount headsystems and the like having various designs, structures, configurationsand materials of construction have been disclosed in the prior art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 2,775,878 to EICHHORN discloses a ring comprisinga shank that is recessed at the top to provide a crown seating portionwith a radially directed hole and a transverse passage through thecrown. The crown is removably fitted to the crown seating portion of thering shank. The opposite side portions of the crown have openingsthrough them that fit on the opposite ends of the transverse passage ofthe crown seating portion of the ring. A key is applied through thetransverse passage of the ring to secure the crown to the shank. A jewelis set in the crown and a screw is applied outwardly through theradially directed hole in the crown seating portion of the shank,through the key, and threaded into the jewel setting. This prior artdoes not disclose or teach the design, structure and configuration ofthe universal ring setting for receiving different size crown heads ofthe claimed present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,986 to WHITE discloses a jewelry item having aninterchangeable crown capable of being attached to different jewelryitems such as a ring, bracelet or necklace. The jewelry system includesa decorative crown which mounts on the bars of the item of jewelry whichmay be scaled in size to adorn a finger. The crown is retained on thering shank by a retainer slide. This prior art does not disclose orteach the design, structure and configuration of the universal ringsetting for receiving different size crown heads of the claimed presentinvention.

None of these prior art patents teach or disclose the design, structureand configuration of a gemstone crown head with a notch in the bottomwall that attaches in a flush manner to an integral crossbar in a ringsetting for allowing different sized gemstone crown heads to be receivedby the same ring setting for mounting of different size gemstones.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide auniversal ring setting for receiving different size crown heads forholding and mounting different size gemstones or diamonds.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead that has a notch in the bottom wall which attaches flush to anintegral crossbar member in a ring setting without the use of a lock orlatch to hold the gemstone crown head in place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead that can vary in size. This allows the crown head to be received bythe same ring setting for mounting of different sized gemstones ordiamonds.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead that is easily installed and mounted to a universal ring setting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead and a universal ring setting having an interchangeable mechanismthat is easy to use, secure and does not require the jeweler tomanipulate any small parts which can be lost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead in conjunction with the universal ring setting such that theinterchangeable mechanism exhibits mechanical integrity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead and the universal ring setting which are both durable and easy andinexpensive to replace if broken.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gemstone crownhead and a universal ring setting having an integral crossbar memberthat can be mass-produced in an automated and economical manner and isreadily affordable by the consumer and/or jeweler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a universalring setting for receiving different size gemstone crown heads formounting different size diamonds or gemstones. The universal ringsetting includes a gemstone crown head for supporting a gemstone. Thecrown head includes a housing having a plurality of holding prongs, andan interior cavity for receiving and mounting the gemstone therein, andhaving a bottom circular edge with a notch formed therein. The universalring setting also includes a ring shank for encircling a finger of auser, the ring shank has an upper shank section with an integrallyattached crossbar member thereon. The crossbar member is used fordetachably receiving the notch of the crown head thereon forcooperatively mounting of the crown head to the upper shank section ofthe ring shank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon the consideration of the following detaileddescription of the presently preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the gemstone crown head with a notch ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a diamond, acrown head and a ring setting in an assembled state;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the gemstone crownhead of the present invention showing the diamond, the crown head havinga bottom notch therein, and the ring setting having an integral crossbarmember as part of the ring setting;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the gemstone crown head of thepresent invention showing the bottom notch of the crown head attached tothe crossbar member of the ring setting;

FIGS. 4 a to 4 e are top plan views of the gemstone crown head of thepresent invention showing a plurality of gemstone crown heads increasingin size for holding of different size gemstones;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the gemstone crown head of thepresent invention taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows showing the bottom notch relative to the crossbar member ofthe ring setting; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the gemstone crown head of thepresent invention taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1 in the direction ofthe arrows showing the bottom notch sitting on the crossbar member ofthe ring setting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 10

The universal ring setting 10 and its major component parts of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in detailby FIGS. 1 through 8 of the patent drawings. The universal ring setting10 is for receiving different size gemstone crown heads 20 in order tohold and mount different size gemstones or diamonds 12, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4 a to 4 e of the drawings. This allows different sizegemstone crown heads 20 to be received by the same ring setting 10 formounting of different sized diamonds or gemstones 12, as depicted inFIGS. 4 a to 4 e.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 8 of the drawings, the universal ringsetting 10 includes a gemstone crown head 20 for supporting the gemstoneor diamond 12 and a ring shank 40 for encircling a finger 14 of a user15. The crown head 20 includes a housing 22 having a plurality ofequally spaced-apart holding prongs 24 a, 24 b, 24 c, 24 d, 24 e and 24f and an interior cavity 26 for receiving and mounting the gemstone 12therein. In alternate gemstone crown head 20 designs, housing 22includes a plurality of holding prongs having at least four (4) equallyspaced-apart prongs 23 a to 24 d on housing 22, or includes a pluralityof holding prongs having at least five (5) equally spaced-apart prongs24 a to 24 e on housing 22, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. Thecrown head 20 also includes a circular side wall 28 and a bottomcircular edge 30. The bottom circular edge has a notch 32 formedtherein, and the interior cavity 26 has a circular opening 34 forreceiving a portion of the pavilion 13 of the diamond 12, as depicted inFIG. 2.

The universal ring setting 10 includes a ring shank 40 having an uppershank section 42 with an integrally crossbar member 44 formed thereon.Opposing ends 45 a and 45 b of the crossbar member 44 are integrallyattached onto opposing ends 43 a and 43 b of the upper shank section 42for forming the ring shank 40 of the universal ring setting 10. Thecrossbar member 44 is used for detachably receiving the notch 32 ofcrown head 20 for cooperatively mounting of the crown head 20 to theupper shank section 42 of ring shank 40, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6of the patent drawings.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the drawings, the universal ringsetting 10 is assembled in the following manner: The user initiallypicks out a gemstone or diamond 12 to buy. The jeweler then determines aproper size gemstone crown head 20 to be used for that particular sizedgemstone 12 having four, five or six holding prongs, as shown in FIGS.2, 7 and 8. The jeweler then properly mounts the gemstone 12 by placingand positioning the pavilion 13 of diamond 12 within the circularopening 34 of interior cavity 26 of the selected crown head 20. Theassembled diamond 12 and crown head 20 are then mounted to ring shank 50by the jeweler by positioning and mounting the notch 32 of crown head 20onto the crossbar member 44 of the upper shank section 44 of ring shank40, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The jeweler thensolders or glues the notch 32 to the crossbar member 44 for additionalholding and securement to the ring shank 40.

If the buyer decides to purchase a larger or smaller diamond 12, thejeweler then selects a larger or smaller gemstone crown head 20 in orderto mount the diamond 12 to that sized crown head 20, as depicted inFIGS. 4 a through 4 e of the drawings, to the crossbar member 44 ofuniversal ring setting 10, as previously described.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a universal ring setting for receiving different size crown headsfor holding and mounting different size gemstones or diamonds.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head that has a notch in the bottom wall which attachesflush to an integral crossbar member in a ring setting without the useof a lock or latch to hold the gemstone crown head in place.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head that can vary in size. This allows the crown head tobe received by the same ring setting for mounting of different sizedgemstones or diamonds.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head that is easily installed and mounted to a universalring setting.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head and a universal ring setting having aninterchangeable mechanism that is easy to use, secure and does notrequire the jeweler to manipulate any small parts which can be lost.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head in conjunction with the universal ring setting suchthat the interchangeable mechanism exhibits mechanical integrity.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head and the universal ring setting which are bothdurable and easy and inexpensive to replace if broken.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for agemstone crown head and a universal ring setting having an integralcrossbar member that can be mass-produced in an automated and economicalmanner and is readily affordable by the consumer and/or jeweler.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

1. A universal ring setting for receiving different size gemstone crownheads for mounting different size diamonds or gemstones, comprising: a)a gemstone crown head for supporting a gemstone; b) said crown headincluding a housing having a plurality of holding prongs, and aninterior cavity for receiving and mounting the gemstone therein, andhaving a bottom circular edge with a notch formed therein; c) auniversal ring setting including a ring shank for encircling a finger ofa user, said ring shank having an upper shank section with an integrallyattached crossbar member formed thereon; and d) said crossbar member fordetachably receiving said notch of said crown head thereon forcooperatively mounting of said crown head to said upper shank section ofsaid ring shank.
 2. A universal ring setting in accordance with claim 1,wherein said crown head is detachably replaced with a different sizecrown head.
 3. A universal ring setting in accordance with claim 1,wherein said plurality of holding prongs includes at least four (4)spaced-apart holding prongs on said housing.
 4. A universal ring settingin accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of holding prongsincludes at least five (5) spaced-apart holding prongs on said housing.5. A universal ring setting in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidplurality of holding prongs includes at least six (6) spaced-apartholding prongs on said housing.
 6. A universal ring setting inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said interior cavity of said crown headreceives a portion of the pavilion of the gemstone.
 7. A universal ringsetting in accordance with claim 1, wherein opposing ends of saidcrossbar member are integrally attached on opposing ends of said uppershank section forming said ring shank.